Nine to Six: Part 3 - Boundary Play

USCA stock photo shows the string line boundaries utilized for six-wicket croquet

A Subtle Difference

After a month off due to a very busy website schedule in November, it was time to get the Nine to Six series back on track. This month, we are looking at the boundary rules for nine-wicket and the U.S. six-wicket games. At the USCA nine-wicket national championship, option two and three of the advanced rules are utilized which effectively means that boundary rules mimic the U.S. six-wicket rules with just one subtle exception. In the nine-wicket game, a ball is considered out of bounds once it touches the line as opposed to six wicket where a ball would not be ruled out of bounds until half of the ball crosses the line.

My personal opinion is that ther are two reasons for this minor difference. First, the slower speed of the nine-wicket long grass fields means it's a little easier to roquet a boundary ball as it is less likely to roll out. Creating a smaller margin balances the lawn speed difference to a degree.

Secondly, you are more likely to see painted lines in nine-wicket as opposed to the thin string lines used in six-wicket play. From a practical standpoint, it is just much easier to judge out of bounds on a thick painted line at the moment the ball touches the line.

Again, I want to emphasize the above paragraphs are based on the rules used for advanced nine-wicket play. The base nine-wicket rules regarding boundaries are much more like Association Croquet played internationally. That means there is virtually no penalty for out of bounds and out of bounds balls are set in at 36 inches instead of the nine inches used in American rules for six-wicket and advance nine-wicket.

The Nine to Six Series (Highlighting Differences Between Nine-wicket and Six-wicket Croquet)

The Nine to Six Series (Highlighting Differences Between Nine-wicket and Six-wicket Croquet)

Part One -- Clearing Deadness
Part Two -- Post Roquet Options
Part Three -- Boundaries
Part Four -- Wiring
Part Five -- Rover Balls

More on this series: The series endeavors to describe changes that nine wicket players will encounter when they try out the U.S. rules six wicket game. There's a lot of quality information on six-wicket on the internet, but some of it seems pretty complex and is presented all at once. The aim here is to slice this into smaller concepts to allow players to absorb as needed. Also, I need to clarify that I have been playing the six-wicket game for just one-year and have not attended tournaments. So, more experienced players should feel welcome to chime in using the comments and clarify if I am leading people astray. I do think my inexperience is useful in that the concepts are fresh in my mind. Also, for players making the jump to six-wicket, I assume the basics of the game are understood.

Nine to Six: Part 2 - Post Roquet Options

USCA Stock Photo

Probably the biggest adjustment when transitioning from nine-wicket croquet to the six-wicket game is the reduction of options after roqueting a live ball. The nine wicket game offers a range of choices for your first bonus shot:

1. You can play your shot from a distance of one mallet head (9") or less from the roqueted ball.
2. You can use the most famous shot in croquet. Place your ball in contact with the roqueted ball and use your foot or hand to secure your ball. It's the ultimate stop shot.
3. A simple croquet shot where your ball is placed in contact with the roqueted ball. You can perform a split roll here, a stop shot or a simple takeoff.
4. And the final option (unique to nine-wicket) is playing your ball where it lays.

For the six-wicket game, it is simple. Once you roquet a live ball, go ahead and pick it up because you'll be playing a shot in contact with the roqueted ball. There is no option for placing your foot or hand on your ball on your bonus stroke so forget all about that one. You can play a split roll, stop shot or simple takeoff. The key for the takeoff is that you have to hit into the roqueted ball enough so that it visibly moves. If the ball does not move, it is a fault. The balls are reset and the turn is over.

The Nine to Six Series (Highlighting Differences Between Nine-wicket and Six-wicket Croquet)

Part One -- Clearing Deadness
Part Two -- Post Roquet Options
Part Three -- Boundaries
Part Four -- Wiring
Part Five -- Rover Balls

More on this series: The series endeavors to describe changes that nine wicket players will encounter when they try out the U.S. rules six wicket game. There's a lot of quality information on six-wicket on the internet, but some of it seems pretty complex and is presented all at once. The aim here is to slice this into smaller concepts to allow players to absorb as needed. Also, I need to clarify that I have been playing the six-wicket game for just one-year and have not attended tournaments. So, more experienced players should feel welcome to chime in using the comments and clarify if I am leading people astray. I do think my inexperience is useful in that the concepts are fresh in my mind. Also, for players making the jump to six-wicket, I assume the basics of the game are understood.

Nine to Six: Part 1 - Clearing Deadness

USCA Stock Photo

This month kicks off a new series that I'll call "Nine to Six" that endeavors to describe changes that nine wicket players will encounter when they try out the U.S. rules six wicket game. There's a lot of quality information on six-wicket on the internet, but some of it seems pretty complex and is presented all at once. The aim here is to slice this into smaller concepts to allow players to absorb as needed. Also, I need to clarify that I have been playing the six-wicket game for just one-year and have not attended tournaments. So, more experienced players should feel welcome to chime in using the comments and clarify if I am leading people astray. I do think my inexperience is useful in that the concepts are fresh in my mind.

Also, for players making the jump to six-wicket, I assume the basics of the game are understood -- partner balls and the six wicket pattern.*

Clearing Deadness

I'm starting with the rule that to this day, I have a hard time enacting. The rule is simply that when your opponent runs the one back wicket (see pattern here), you are allowed to clear deadness on one of your balls. You must declare clearing prior to starting your next turn. For clarification, you make think of one-back as the seventh wicket a ball scores or the first wicket as a ball starts the second half of the six-wicket configuration.

It's a challenging rule to remember and quite often beginners just miss it. I am sure there are a number of tricks players use as reminders. I know one player that takes off his hat when his opponent clears one-back. I now try to start every turn by asking a simple question in my mind:

"Do I have deadness on either ball and do I have an immediate option to clear?"

Compared to Nine-Wicket

Variations of the nine-wicket game are diverse, but in a lot of cases, nine-wicket players have no clearing rule, so the concept is totally new. However, it is listed in the official USCA options (option 1a) for the backyard game and is utilized at the USCA Nine-Wicket Nationals. When it is used for nine-wicket, it is occurs at the wicket after the turning stake (commonly referred to as the eighth wicket) There is a unique factor that complicates things a bit -- you must be behind in points to enact clearing. And further, it is the score at the end your opponent's turn that must be accounted for. Your opponent may be behind when he runs the eighth wicket, but ahead by the end of his turn. In such case, you could enact deadness clearing for one of your balls. In six wicket play, clearing can occur no matter what the score is.

*In my opinion, cutthroat or nine-wicket players that can execute split rolls and run a three- or four-ball break are ready to try six-wicket. If you are in this class, I'd find a nearby field or club and get started.

The Nine to Six Series (Highlighting Differences Between Nine-wicket and Six-wicket Croquet)

Part One -- Clearing Deadness
Part Two -- Post Roquet Options
Part Three -- Boundaries
Part Four -- Wiring
Part Five -- Rover Balls